Slept in a bit...left at 8am, took a slow drive on the S128 to Mhlondozi dam for breakfast.



The v iew from the Picnic spot

After breakfast we went back on the same road towards Lower Sabie...on the way this Eagle was
sitting on the road and next to the road was a dead Puff Adder. We missed the kill by minutes as you can see it ate the head...flew off after a while and sat in a tree waiting for us to move so that he/she could carry on with its meal.





Dead Puff Adder with its head off...

 Further down the road we saw this Ground Hornbill forraging....

Stopped at the bridge to take a photo of this bird....



Purple Heron

Got back to camp as it was hot by now...38! Lazed around camp to cool off.
Decided to go and sit at Sunset Dam just outside camp. A magic place to sit and watch the Hippo's.


Sunset Dam...Hippo swimming near the tree...

Lots of birds there as well...
Watched this Fish Eagle trying to catch some fish, kept on flying off then back to the tree..


Taking off....

 




Trying to catch a fish.....



This Wattled Plower was one busy bird...running around looking for Goggas
 Correction White Crowned Lapwing (thanks Elsa)



Left camp at 05h45 to exit park at Crocodile bridge on way to Nelspruit for a much needed car service.
As usual when you are in a hurry and cant stop for long, you run into something exciting. 10 km from Lower Sabie we ran into a pair of mating Lion.

Smelling and licking the lioness excretion

Did some shopping in Nelspruit for supplies which should last us for the month.
Returned to Croc Bridge gate and followed the tar back to Lower sabie. The road back was teeming with game. Honey badger crossed the road. which we added to our mammal list

Just short of camp we had a Leopard in a tree (LIT), to far and dark for any good photographs. On the trip to the gate and back we saw 4 of the big 5, the only miss was a Buffalo.

Photos of the day

An hour spent with mom and cub on the S29

Cheetah and cub



Mom listen to me....

mom wake up...



going for the kill.....




Heuglins Robin

 

look at the big cut in the ear




Whitewinged Tern (V for vic in tail)



Lower Sabie 1 May to 31 May

Co-ordinates of camp site S25.12014  E31.91617Elevation 162 metres

Left Pretoriuskop at 06h30 and arrived at Lower Sabie at 08h30. We got a great site which went open on the morning, Corrie put a table and chair on the site to reserve it for us before they went on their morning drive. Spent the day getting organised, put up the full tent as we are staying for 30 days. Got the satellite dish aligned correctly, to watch TV. All the old campers are here again and it was good to renew acquaintances.

After a light dinner done in the microwave we retired early as we were both tired from all the hard work. We were serenaded by Lions roaring within meters of the gate. This carried on until late at night. Last year we spent almost 3 months in the park and only heard Lions roaring once. What a welcome to Lower Sabie.



Lower sabie Camp site



Braai boma added



2 May

Slept late and went for breakfast at the restaurant. Pottered around camp, high tea with the Retief's before going on our first real game drive. This place never ceases to amaze me, you never know whats around the corner. Those of you that followed our 2010 blog will recall how we battled to see Cheetah, in 90 days we briefly saw the backside of one. Our first real big tick of the trip is this magnificent Cheetah on the Mlondozi Rd. ( S25.04687 E31.93287)



Calling for its mate

If this is the start it bodes well for the rest of our stay here.
First Braai in our boma.
Lettie watching 'Brothers and Sisters' while I follow the Bin Ladin storey.
Hope the LION roars again tonight.